Product Designer, EWA

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer, EWA

Company: KONE

Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Management / IT Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-04

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (Estimated 5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design process for IT products, translating user needs into detailed functional and non-functional requirements.

• Collaborate closely with Product Owners, Process Owners, and target users to define and refine IT product specifications, ensuring alignment with business value and complexity.

• Ensure all IT product designs adhere to KONE's cybersecurity standards and data modeling principles.

• Support the creation and refinement of backlog items (Epics, Stories, Tasks) and actively participate in agile ceremonies.

• Facilitate stakeholder and end-user demos, incorporating feedback to iterate on product designs and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Product Designer" with a focus on "EWA" (likely referring to a specific product suite or initiative within KONE). While the title suggests design, the responsibilities heavily lean into product management, business analysis, and IT product lifecycle management within an agile framework. The estimated experience level of 5-10 years is derived from the breadth and depth of responsibilities, including supporting senior roles and managing complex design aspects. The "EWA" acronym is assumed to be an internal KONE designation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Understand and document end-user needs and business process requirements for IT products, working with Product Owners and target users.

• Evaluate identified needs and opportunities based on value and complexity, exploring synergies for simplification and efficiency.

• Define detailed product specifications, including functionality, expected value, target users, acceptance criteria, and compliance requirements.

• Create fit-for-purpose designs for prioritized items, considering both functional and non-functional aspects, in collaboration with Product Architects and Technical Design Leads.

• Ensure IT product designs comply with KONE's cybersecurity standards and data models.

• Translate designs into backlog items such as user stories and tasks, and support Product Owners in refining higher-level backlog items like Epics.

• Support implementation teams with detailed and technical designs, acting as a reviewer where needed.

• Actively participate in stakeholder and end-user demos, incorporating feedback into product design.

• Facilitate end-user validation activities and ensure feedback is integrated into product designs.

• Maintain up-to-date product concept and description documentation (e.g., in Confluence, SharePoint).

• Support IT Operations in addressing critical issues, such as major incidents related to IT products.

• Ensure overall quality of product documentation, including concept, design specifications, training materials, and instructions.

• Initiate trainings and communications for key stakeholders on best-practice usage, new releases, and product changes.

• Actively support Product Owners in updating product roadmaps and prioritizing backlogs based on subject matter expertise and product familiarity.

• Play an active role in agile practices, including backlog refinement, planning, and dependency management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities highlight a hybrid role combining product management, business analysis, and technical design oversight. The emphasis on "EWA" suggests a specific domain or product area where this designer will specialize. The responsibilities are comprehensive, covering the entire product lifecycle from ideation and requirement gathering through design, implementation support, and ongoing operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Business, or a related field.

• Master's degree or advanced certifications in Product Management or IT is a plus. Experience:

• 5-10 years of progressive experience in IT product design, product management, or business analysis within an enterprise environment.

• Proven experience working with IT products and understanding complex business processes.

• Demonstrated experience in agile development methodologies (Scrum, Kanban).

• Experience in defining and documenting functional and non-functional requirements.

• Experience in supporting software development lifecycle (SDLC) and product implementation. Required Skills:

• Product Design & Requirements Definition: Ability to translate business needs into detailed product specifications, user stories, and acceptance criteria.

• Business Process Analysis: Deep understanding of how IT products integrate with and support business processes.

• Agile Methodologies: Proficiency in agile practices, including backlog refinement, sprint planning, and iterative development.

• Stakeholder Management: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with Product Owners, end-users, and technical teams.

• IT Product Lifecycle Management: Familiarity with managing products from conception through deployment and ongoing support.

• Documentation: Strong ability to create and maintain clear, comprehensive product documentation.

• Problem-Solving: Analytical and critical thinking skills to address complex design challenges and operational issues.

Preferred Skills:

• Cybersecurity Principles: Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices and data modeling within IT product design.

• UI/UX Collaboration: Experience working with UI/UX design teams to ensure user-centric design outcomes.

• Technical Design Acumen: Ability to understand and collaborate on technical design aspects with architects and engineers.

• Jira/Confluence Proficiency: Hands-on experience with tools like Jira for backlog management and Confluence for documentation.

• Roadmap Planning: Experience contributing to product roadmap development and prioritization.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively across diverse teams (e.g., IT Operations, Product Architects, Data Engineers).

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills are a blend of analytical, technical, and soft skills essential for a role bridging business and technology. The emphasis on agile, stakeholder management, and detailed documentation is critical for success in this product design capacity. The preferred skills point towards a candidate who can quickly integrate into KONE's established processes and collaborate effectively with specialized technical teams.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies of Product Design: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating the end-to-end product design process for complex IT products. Each case study should highlight the problem, your approach, the solutions designed, and the impact/outcomes.

• Requirements Documentation Examples: Include samples of well-defined functional and non-functional requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria you have developed.

• Process Optimization Examples: Present examples where you identified inefficiencies in existing processes or product functionalities and proposed or implemented optimized solutions.

• Collaboration Evidence: Demonstrate instances of successful collaboration with cross-functional teams, Product Owners, or end-users, showcasing how you incorporated feedback.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Evidence of creating or improving workflows related to IT product usage, implementation, or support.

• System Implementation Support: Examples of how you have supported technical teams during the implementation phase, clarifying designs and resolving issues.

• Measurement & Analysis: Demonstrations of how you have tracked or analyzed the performance of product designs or features post-implementation, and how this informed further iterations.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Designer role with significant product management and business analysis components, a portfolio is crucial. It should not only showcase design outputs but also the strategic thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative processes involved. The emphasis here is on demonstrating the ability to translate needs into actionable designs and support their successful implementation and adoption.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for Product Designers/IT Product Managers in Chennai, India, with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is ₹1,200,000 to ₹2,200,000 (INR). This range accounts for the role's responsibilities, the company's industry (heavy machinery/elevators and escalators), and the cost of living in Chennai. Benefits:

• Collaborative Working Culture: Opportunities to work in an innovative and team-oriented environment.

• Employee Engagement: Focus on fostering a culture where individual contributions are valued and participation is encouraged.

• Sustainability Focus: Involvement in a company that integrates sustainability into its daily practices and ethical business conduct.

• Career Development Opportunities: Access to experiences and opportunities designed to help achieve career and personal goals.

• Healthy and Balanced Life Support: Company commitment to enabling employees to live a healthy and balanced life.

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical coverage for employees and potentially dependents.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Contributions to a provident fund or similar retirement savings scheme.

• Paid Time Off: Generous leave policies including annual leave, sick leave, and public holidays.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are typically 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Flexibility may be available, but the role is on-site, requiring consistent presence during core business hours for team collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on general market data for similar roles and experience levels in Chennai. The benefits listed are derived directly from the provided company description, highlighting KONE's emphasis on culture, employee well-being, and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Building Solutions (Elevators, Escalators, Automatic Doors, Maintenance) - A leader in the global elevator and escalator industry.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (KONE is a global company with over 60,000 employees worldwide). This size implies structured processes, dedicated departments, and opportunities for specialization.

Founded: 1910. KONE has a long history, suggesting stability, established practices, and a deep understanding of its market.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will likely be part of a larger Product Management or IT department.

• This team will include Product Owners, Product Architects, Technical Design Leads, and Data Engineers, indicating a highly collaborative and specialized technical environment.

• Reporting structure will be to a Product Owner or a Manager overseeing product design/management functions.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, involving close work with IT Operations, business process owners, and end-users across various KONE departments. Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: While not a primary data analyst role, the Product Designer will leverage data and insights from users and business processes to inform design decisions.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: A core function is designing and refining workflows to improve efficiency and user experience for IT products.

• Automation & Efficiency: The role aims to contribute to efficiency through well-designed products and clear documentation, potentially identifying opportunities for automation.

Company Website: https://www.kone.com

📝 Enhancement Note: KONE's long history and global presence suggest a robust organizational structure and a commitment to innovation and quality in the building solutions sector. The team structure emphasizes collaboration within specialized IT functions, requiring strong communication and integration skills from the Product Designer.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-Senior level, likely equivalent to a Lead Product Designer or Senior Product Manager in other organizations. It involves significant autonomy in design definition, responsibility for quality, and proactive support for product strategy and implementation. The "EWA" designation and potential delegation of responsibilities from Principal roles indicate a structured career path within KONE.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report to a Product Owner or a Product Design/Management Lead. They will work closely with Product Architects, Technical Design Leads, and Data Engineers, forming a core product development pod or team. Collaboration extends to IT Operations, business process owners, and end-users.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's impact is significant, directly influencing the usability, efficiency, and compliance of critical IT products that support KONE's global operations. Well-designed products lead to improved productivity, reduced operational costs, enhanced cybersecurity, and better stakeholder satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in IT product design, agile methodologies, and specific business domains within KONE.

• Leadership Development: Potential to move into Principal Product Designer roles, Product Owner positions, or management roles overseeing design teams.

• Domain Specialization: Become a subject matter expert in the "EWA" product suite or other key IT product areas within KONE.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain broader understanding of KONE's business by collaborating with various departments and understanding their IT needs.

• Certification & Training: Access to KONE's learning and development programs, potentially including industry certifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path at KONE appears to offer both specialization within product design and potential progression into broader product management or leadership roles. The emphasis on impact through improved IT products suggests that strong performance can lead to increased responsibilities and opportunities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job is listed as "On-site," indicating a traditional office-based work environment at KONE's Chennai facility (Chennai ITEC/KBS). This setting is designed for collaborative work.

Office Location(s): Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. This location likely serves as a key hub for KONE's IT and business operations in the region.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office space is expected to facilitate teamwork, with shared spaces for meetings, brainstorming, and day-to-day interaction with colleagues.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to KONE's standard IT infrastructure, including computers, network access, and potentially specialized design and collaboration software.

• Team Interaction: Ample opportunities for direct interaction with the immediate product design team, Product Owners, architects, and other stakeholders, fostering a dynamic working atmosphere.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is likely Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM IST (Asia/Kolkata timezone), totaling approximately 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, KONE's culture emphasizes employee engagement and work-life balance, suggesting a professional and structured work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Chennai is typical for roles involving deep collaboration and integration with local teams. KONE's emphasis on a healthy and balanced life, coupled with its large enterprise structure, suggests a professional and supportive office environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition will review applications and resumes for basic qualifications.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager and potentially a senior team member to assess experience, technical skills, and cultural fit. Expect questions on product design methodologies, agile practices, and stakeholder management.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, detailing 1-2 key projects. This is crucial for demonstrating problem-solving skills, design process, and impact. Be prepared to discuss challenges, solutions, and outcomes.

• Technical/Case Study Assessment: A potential technical exercise or a case study related to product design for an IT product within KONE's domain. This will evaluate analytical skills and approach to problem-solving.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership or cross-functional stakeholders to confirm suitability and alignment with KONE's values and strategic goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design process followed, key decisions made, challenges encountered, and the measurable results or impact achieved.

• Highlight Process Over Polish: While visual appeal is good, emphasize the thought process, analytical rigor, and problem-solving steps more than just the final UI mockups. KONE is looking for how you think and design, not just what you can draw.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the value of your designs. This could include improvements in efficiency, reduction in errors, increased user adoption, or positive feedback from user validation.

• Tailor to KONE: If possible, subtly align your examples with KONE's industry (e.g., complex systems, operational efficiency, safety) and mention how your skills can address challenges in their specific context.

• Be Ready for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handled trade-offs, how you incorporated feedback, and how you ensured compliance with standards.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand KONE's Business: Familiarize yourself with KONE's products, services, and the building solutions industry.

• Review Agile Principles: Be ready to discuss your experience with Scrum, Kanban, backlog management, and participation in agile ceremonies.

• Practice Problem-Solving: Work through hypothetical product design challenges, focusing on defining requirements, proposing solutions, and outlining implementation considerations.

• Prepare for Stakeholder Scenarios: Think about how you would handle conflicting requirements from different stakeholders or manage feedback during user demos.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly assess a candidate's design capabilities, analytical skills, and ability to operate within a structured, collaborative, and agile environment. A strong portfolio is paramount, and candidates should be prepared to articulate their process and impact in detail.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Product Design & Prototyping Tools: While not explicitly stated, expect proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar for wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.

• Requirements Management: Tools like Jira are highly probable for creating and managing user stories, epics, and tasks.

• Documentation Platforms: Confluence and SharePoint are mentioned as primary documentation repositories, requiring proficiency in creating and managing content within these systems.

• Collaboration Tools: Microsoft Teams or similar for day-to-day communication and team collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Potentially tools like Tableau, Power BI, or internal KONE analytics platforms for understanding user behavior and product performance, though this role is more focused on designing based on data rather than deep analytics.

• Reporting Tools: Ability to interpret and use reports generated by other teams to inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Familiarity with CRM concepts and data flow is beneficial, especially if IT products interface with KONE's CRM (e.g., Salesforce, Dynamics).

• Workflow Automation Tools: Understanding the principles of workflow automation and how IT products can contribute to or integrate with automated processes.

• Integration Tools: Awareness of API concepts and how different IT systems integrate is helpful for designing cohesive product experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes collaboration, documentation, and agile project management. While specific design tools aren't listed, candidates should be prepared to demonstrate proficiency in common industry tools. The mention of Confluence and SharePoint is a strong indicator of KONE's preferred documentation workflow.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Collaboration: KONE values creating an innovative and collaborative working culture where individual contributions are recognized. This means actively participating, sharing ideas, and working effectively with others.

• Employee Engagement: A key focus area, encouraging participation and the sharing of information and ideas, suggesting an open and communicative environment.

• Sustainability: An integral part of the culture and daily practice, implying a commitment to ethical business practices and responsible operations.

• Ethical Business Practices: Operating with integrity and respect is paramount, influencing decision-making and interactions.

• Efficiency & Simplicity: The role description explicitly mentions exploring possibilities to "combine and harmonize related ideas for sake of simplicity and efficiency," indicating these are core operational values.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative style where the Product Designer works closely with Product Owners, architects, engineers, and IT operations.

• Process Review & Feedback: A culture that likely encourages open feedback during demos and validation activities to refine product designs.

• Knowledge Sharing: Emphasis on sharing information and ideas, suggesting a supportive environment for learning and continuous improvement. This includes sharing best practices for product usage and changes.

📝 Enhancement Note: KONE's culture appears to be a blend of traditional corporate values (ethics, sustainability, collaboration) with a modern focus on employee engagement and innovation. The emphasis on simplicity and efficiency in product design aligns well with the core goals of operations and product development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Effectively managing and prioritizing potentially conflicting requirements from various stakeholders (business owners, end-users, IT, compliance).

• Complexity of IT Products: Designing for complex enterprise IT products that have deep integrations with business processes and require adherence to strict standards.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: Staying updated with evolving IT product capabilities, design trends, and KONE's internal technology stack.

• Ensuring Compliance: Integrating cybersecurity and data model compliance seamlessly into the design process without hindering functionality or user experience.

• Documentation Management: Maintaining high-quality, up-to-date documentation across multiple products and iterations in a large enterprise.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in product design, agile product management, and specific IT product domains relevant to KONE's business.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Opportunities to attend relevant industry events or pursue certifications in product management, agile, or IT design.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Potential for mentorship from senior designers or product leaders, and pathways to leadership roles within KONE's product organization.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain a holistic understanding of KONE's global operations by working on IT products that support diverse business functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a senior product design role in a large, complex organization. KONE's commitment to employee development suggests that these challenges are viewed as opportunities for growth and skill enhancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Product Strategy & Methodology: "How would you approach defining requirements for a new IT product feature that needs to integrate with our existing elevator maintenance system? Walk me through your process from initial idea to backlog item." (Focus on requirement gathering, stakeholder alignment, complexity evaluation, and documentation).

• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: "Describe a time you had to manage conflicting feedback from different stakeholder groups. How did you resolve it, and what was the outcome for the product design?" (Look for conflict resolution, negotiation, and communication skills).

• Problem-Solving & Efficiency: "Imagine a key IT product is experiencing a high volume of user-reported issues related to data entry. How would you investigate this, and what design solutions might you propose to improve efficiency and reduce errors?" (Demonstrate analytical approach, root cause analysis, and solution ideation).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about KONE and our role in the building solutions industry?" (Research KONE's mission, values, and recent news).

• "How do you see your approach to product design aligning with KONE's values of innovation, collaboration, and sustainability?" (Connect your work style to their stated values).

• "How do you ensure that your product designs contribute to operational efficiency and KONE's overall value proposition?" (Focus on impact and business alignment). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentation around the narrative of each project. Start with the problem, explain your journey, and end with the impact.

• Visualize Your Process: Use diagrams, flowcharts, and visual aids to illustrate your design process, decision-making, and how you incorporated feedback.

• Highlight Key Decisions: Be ready to explain why you made certain design choices, especially when faced with trade-offs between functionality, user experience, and technical constraints.

• Demonstrate Impact with Data: If possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to showcase the success of your designs. For example, "User validation showed a 20% reduction in task completion time after implementing this feature."

• Prepare for Technical Deep Dives: Be ready to discuss the technical considerations of your designs and how they integrate with existing systems or adhere to standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation focuses on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, practical application of design principles, and ability to integrate into KONE's collaborative and standards-driven environment. A well-prepared portfolio presentation is critical for success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the official KONE Careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight experiences directly relevant to product design, IT product management, agile methodologies, and stakeholder engagement. If submitting a portfolio, ensure it showcases your most impactful product design projects.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your responsibilities and achievements using keywords from the job description (e.g., "Product Design," "IT Product Management," "Agile," "Requirements Definition," "Stakeholder Management," "Cybersecurity Compliance"). Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving skills, and experience with collaborative environments. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to present your portfolio confidently.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research KONE's mission, values, products, and recent company news. Understand their position in the building solutions industry and how IT products support their operations.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.